Sports injuries are often slow to heal and may even require surgical intervention in some cases. To promote the body’s natural healing process and prevent or delay the need for surgery, stem cell therapy is being leveraged as an emerging treatment in musculoskeletal applications. Discover whether this option could be right for you below.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy for Sports Injuries?
All tissues and organs are made from stem cells. They have the ability to multiply (self-renew) and mature into any cell type. Stem cells also have anti-inflammatory properties. Together, all of these qualities make stem cells well-suited for healing sports injuries which may otherwise be challenging to treat.
Patients can have their own stem cells extracted from a source such as adipose (fat tissue) or bone marrow. Then, the stem cells are isolated and strategically injected into the site of the injury. Over time, the cells’ powerful healing capabilities get to work, aiding in tissue repair and leading to benefits like decreased pain, quicker recovery, reduction of swelling, and return to function and flexibility. Other options are from donor sources such as umbilical cord derived tissue and exosomes.
What Type of Injuries Can Stem Cell Therapy Address?
Stem cell therapy can address a wide range of musculoskeletal concerns associated with sports and athletic injuries, including damage to:
- Cartilage
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Muscles
The stem cells work to regenerate the injured tissue, prompt a fuller and more rapid recovery, and prevent future inflammation. They can be used for both acute injuries, such as tears, as well as overuse injuries. Here are just a few sports injuries stem cell therapy can help treat:
- Sprains and strains
- ACL tear
- Runner’s knee
- Tennis elbow
- Achilles tendonitis
While results of the treatment may vary based on the severity of the injury and other individual factors, stem cell therapy holds promise for promoting the healing of many sports and athletic injuries and could be the option that helps get individuals back into their normal routine quicker and with little to no pain.
This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we offer Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in Tampa, this therapy naturally acts to rebuild and regenerate neural tissues that are lost from the progression of all different types of diseases.